"I think that we have our personal life and then we have our work life. And our work life and our personal life should kept somewhat separate," said Franson.

Four Democrats -- Reps. John Lesch, Kate Knuth, Tina Liebling and Carly Melin -- joined her in sponsoring the measure. Franson said a fifth DFLer would likely sign on.

"I think some on my side of the aisle feel that if the employer wants to ask for that that should be their business," she said. But she, she said, was not surprised that she found DFL allies on the issue.

"On both sides of the aisle, the goal is to work in a bipartisan fashion," said Franson, who has been in the news lately for making what many saw as a comparison between wild animals and food stamp recipients.

Knuth, DFL-New Brighton, said she signed on because Franson had a solid proposal.

"I tend to look at good ideas over personality, so I don't think it is weird," she said.

Sen. Sean Neinow, R-Cambridge, is sponsoring the identical bill in the Senate.

A Duluth native who just barely lost Virginia's GOP gubernatorial primary said that politicians have not gone far enough in condemning the left for violence during a rally of white nationalists in Charlottesville. "I think that the left is going to try to use this as an excuse to crack down on conservative free speech," said Corey Stewart. "I think they're going to try to use this as an excuse to remove more historical monuments."